Xiaomi slows down after the update: how to return performance without losing data

You upgraded your firmware on Xiaomi, and instead of the promised improvements, you got an ever-thinking interface, hanging apps and a battery that drains before your eyes? This problem is familiar to many owners of the brand’s smartphones, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13. The reasons for the brakes after the MIUI update can be hidden both in the software bugs of the new version and in the hardware limitations of the device.

In this article, we’ll look at 10 working methods to speed up Xiaomi after an upgrade, from basic steps like cleaning cache to radical measures like rolling back firmware. You’ll learn which MIUI settings are stealthy, how to check firmware compatibility with your model, and when to contact the service center. All instructions are tested on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and adapted for devices with 4-12 GB of RAM.

Why Xiaomi is slowing down after the update: 5 main reasons

New firmware doesn't always mean better performance, but most of the time, brakes are caused by:

• 🔄 Unoptimized code MIUI — Fresh versions of the OS may contain bugs, especially in the first stages of distribution (the so-called “raw” builds).
• 📱 Lack of resources – if your Redmi 9A With 2 GB of RAM received firmware designed for Xiaomi 12 Pro with 12 GB of RAM, lags are inevitable.
• 🗑️ System littering – Update doesn’t always clean old files correctly, and they conflict with new ones.
• 🔋 Aggressive battery optimization — MIUI It can artificially limit performance to save charge».
• 🛠️ Custom Settings Conflict – If you’ve previously changed themes, fonts, or system animations, they may not match the new OS version.

According to the official MIUI forum, up to 30% of users experience a slowdown after major updates (e.g., when switching from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), and 70% of the time the problem can be solved without resetting to factory settings.

First steps: What to do immediately after the update

Before you resort to radical measures, follow these 5 mandatory steps:

1. Restart your phone – after installing the update, many processes continue to work in the background. Prolonged retention of the power button and the choice of Reboot often solves the problem.
2. Check the space available – MIUI requires a minimum of 3-5 GB of free space for stable operation. Go to Settings → Storage and clear the unnecessary files.
3. Update all apps – older versions of programs may conflict with the new OS. Open Google Play → My apps and click Update All.
4. Turn off animations — visuals eat up resources. Go to Settings → Special features → Delete animations.
5. Check the CPU temperature -- if the phone is warming, the system is forced to reduce performance. Use the CPU Monitor app.

If after these actions the brakes remain, move to deeper settings.

Cleaning cache and data: how to free the system from garbage

One of the main sources of brakes is clogged cache, which MIUI doesn't always clean properly when it upgrades. Here's how to fix:

1. Cleaning up the app cache

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Select the heaviest programs (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Google Play Services) and click:

• Clear the cache – deletes temporary files.
• Clear the data – reset the settings of the application (there will be an exit from the account!).

2. Cleaning the system cache

For this:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select Wipe Cache Partition (use volume buttons for navigation).
4. Confirm the action and restart the device.

3. Delete unnecessary files through MIUI Cleaner

The built-in Security app (shield icon) has a Cleanup tool. Run it and:

• 🧹 Delete residual files (remains from remote applications).
• 🗑️ Clean the cart (files there take up space!).
• 📁 Check the Duplicate File section — MIUI Often creates copies of photos when updating.

Do not manually delete files from /system or /data folders, as this may cause firmware to break.

Performance settings: Hidden MIUI settings

MIUI hides a few options that can speed up the phone significantly, and here are the options you should change:

1. Background activity shutdown

Many apps continue to work in the background even when you're not using them, to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select Application Selection and mark Limit Background Activity for Unnecessary Programs.

Activation of the performance mode

MIUI has a hidden High Performance mode that turns off the energy saving to activate it:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance.
2. Click on Performance Mode (if not, tap 5 times on the MIUI version in About Phone to unlock).
3. Choose High Performance (increased battery consumption!).

3. disabling MIUI Optimization

This feature is designed to be smooth in animations, but on weak devices, it can cause lags to turn it off.

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in About Phone).
2. Return to the additional settings → Developer settings.
3. Find the MIUI Optimization option and turn it off.
4. Reboot the phone.

💡

If the phone gets worse after MIUI Optimization is turned off, return the settings back, which is critical for stability on some models (e.g. Poco F3).

Resetting settings: when it really helps

If the previous methods didn't work, you might have to reset to factory settings, which is a radical step, but it solves 90 percent of the software problems once you upgrade.

• ⚠️ All data will be deleted (photos, contacts, messages) and backup via Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• ⚠️ Apps will remain, but their settings will reset.
• ⚠️ Mi Account will be untied – write down the login and password.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore backup immediately – check the speed of the clean system.
• 📱 Install applications one at a time, watching the performance.
• ⚡ Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

💡

Resetting helps if the brakes are caused by a conflict between the old settings and the new firmware. If the problem is the raw version of MIUI, resetting won't help.

Reverse Firmware: How to return the old version of MIUI

If the upgrade is completely incompatible with your device (e.g., the Redmi Note 8 Pro is slowing down on MIUI 15), the only way out is to roll back on the previous version. It's a complicated procedure, but we'll take it through the steps.

1. Download the correct firmware

It is important to choose a stable (not beta!) version of MIUI for your model.

• 🌍 Official website MIUI (Choose Recovery. ROM).
• 📎 Xiaomi Firmware Updater (archive of all versions).

Attention! Do not download firmware from questionable forums - this can lead to blocking the bootloader.

2. Unlock the bootloader (if necessary)

On new Xiaomi devices, the bootloader is locked to unlock it:

1. Link your Mi Account to your phone in Settings → Mi Account.
2. Download the Mi Unlock Tool on PC.
3. Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip Power + Volume down) and follow the program instructions.

3.Install firmware through Recovery

The safest way to pull back:

1. Copy the downloaded firmware file (for example, miui_BLOCKOTAName_14.0.5.0.zip) cell-root.
2. Go to Recovery Mode (Nutrition + Volume Up).
3. Select Install update.zip to System and specify your file.
4. After installation, select Reboot to System.

If the phone doesn’t turn on after a rollback, try repeating the procedure or use the Mi Flash Tool on your PC.

Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If all of the above methods have failed, consider these options:

• 🔧 Installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) requires an unlocked bootloader and experience, but can significantly speed up older devices.
• 🔄 Battery replacement – if the battery is worn out (capacity) <50%), The phone is forced to reduce productivity.
• 📱 Update via Mi Flash Tool – sometimes “manual” firmware via PC solves problems that do not fix OTA-update.
• 🛠️ Contacting the service center – if the brakes are accompanied by overheating or spontaneous reboots, the problem may be in the hardware (for example, a fallen memory chip).

For devices older than 3 years (such as the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), it is often the best solution to buy a new phone – modern firmware is simply not optimized for older processors (such as the Snapdragon 660 or Helio P60).

FAQ: Frequent questions about brakes after Xiaomi update